Dahlia plant named &#39;BKDAMPE&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Dahlia  plant named ‘BKDAMPE’, characterized by its broadly upright plant habit; freely basal branching habit; dense and bushy growth habit; medium-sized dark green-colored leaves; and large semi-double inflorescences with red purple-colored ray florets.

Botanical designation: Dahlia hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘BKDAMPE’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Dahliaplant, botanically known as Dahlia hybrida and hereinafter referred toby the name ‘BKDAMPE’.

The new Dahlia plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Maasdijk, The Netherlands. The objective ofthe breeding program is to create new sturdy container Dahlia plantsthat have a freely basal branching habit, and large inflorescences withattractive ray floret coloration.

The new Dahlia plant originated from an open-pollination in March, 2010in Maasdijk, The Netherlands of a proprietary selection of Dahliahybrida identified as code number 4001907, not patented, as the female,or seed, parent with an unknown selection of Dahlia hybrida as the male,or pollen, parent. The new Dahlia plant was discovered and selected bythe Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of thestated open-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment inMaasdijk, The Netherlands in October, 2010.

Asexual reproduction of the new Dahlia plant by terminal cuttings in acontrolled greenhouse environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands sinceJanuary, 2011 has shown that the unique features of this new Dahliaplant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Dahlia have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural conditions. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘BKDAMPE’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘BKDAMPE’ as a new and distinct Dahlia plant:

-   -   1. Broadly upright plant habit.    -   2. Freely basal branching habit; dense and bushy growth habit.    -   3. Medium-sized dark green-colored leaves.    -   4. Large semi-double inflorescences with red purple-colored ray        florets that are dark red towards the base.

Plants of the new Dahlia differ primarily from plants of the femaleparent selection in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Dahlia have darker green-colored leaves than plantsof the female parent selection.

-   -   2. Plants of the new Dahlia and the female parent selection        differ in ray floret color as plants of the female parent        selection have pink-colored ray florets.    -   3. Plants of the new Dahlia and the female parent selection        differ in inflorescence form as plants of the female parent        selection have decorative inflorescences.

Plants of the new Dahlia can be compared to plants of Dahlia hybrida‘Dreamy Nights’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants ofthe new Dahlia differ from plants of ‘Dreamy Nights’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Dahlia have glossier leaves than plants of        ‘Dreamy Nights’.    -   2. Inflorescences of plants of the new Dahlia have more ray        florets than inflorescences of plants of ‘Dreamy Nights’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Dahlia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possibleto obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Dahlia plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘BKDAMPE’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typicalinflorescence of ‘BKDAMPE’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and the following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown during the winter in 12-cm containersin a glass-covered greenhouse in Maasdijk, The Netherlands and undercultural practices typical of commercial Dahlia production. During theproduction of the plants, day and night temperatures ranged from 17° C.to 19° C. Plants were pinched one time and were eleven weeks old whenthe photographs and description were taken. To induce inflorescenceinitiation and development, plants were grown under short nyctoperiod(long day) conditions. In the following description, color referencesare made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition,except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Dahlia hybrida ‘BKDAMPE’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Dahlia            hybrida identified as code number 4001907, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unknown selection of Dahlia            hybrida, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 16 days at            temperatures ranging from 18° C. to 21° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 19 days at            temperatures ranging from 19° C. to 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 21 days            at temperatures ranging from 18° C. to 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 23 days            at temperatures ranging from 19° C. to 21° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically            creamy white to light brown in color, actual color of the            roots is dependent on substrate composition, water quality,            fertilizers, substrate temperature and physiological age of            roots; tuber development has not been observed on plants of            the new Dahlia.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Broadly upright and mounding plant            form; overall plant shape, flattened globular; freely basal            branching habit with about four primary branches developing            per plant; inflorescences held above the foliar plane on            strong peduncles; bushy and dense growth habit; pinching is            not required but will improve branching habit; moderately            vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 17.4            cm.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 22.1            cm.        -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 31.9 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 12.9 cm. Diameter: About            6.5 mm. Internode length: About 1.7 cm. Aspect: Primary            branches are mostly erect; secondary branches, about 30°            from primary branch axis. Strength: Moderately strong.            Texture and luster: Smooth, mostly glabrous with sparse            pubescence at internodes; glossy. Color, developing: Close            to 143A, slightly tinged with close to N200A; internodes,            close to 143A. Color, developed: Close to 143A, moderately            to strongly tinged with close to N200A; internodes, close to            143A.-   Leaf & leaflet description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Leaves opposite and compound with three to five            leaflets.        -   Length, leaves.—About 11 cm.        -   Length, terminal leaflets.—About 7.7 cm.        -   Width, leaves.—About 12.3 cm.        -   Width, terminal leaflets.—About 4.7 cm.        -   Shape, leaves in overall outline.—Broadly ovate.        -   Shape, leaflets.—Ovate to broadly ovate.        -   Apex, leaflets.—Acute to slightly apiculate.        -   Base, leaflets.—Short attenuate.        -   Margin, leaflets.—Coarsely serrate to dentate.        -   Venation pattern, leaflets.—Pinnate.        -   Texture and luster, upper surface, leaflets.—Slightly            rugose, glabrous; slightly velvety; glossy.        -   Texture and luster, lower surface, leaflets.—Smooth,            glabrous; slightly glossy.        -   Color.—Developing leaflets, upper surface: Close to NN137A.            Developing leaflets, lower surface: Close to 147B. Fully            expanded leaflets, upper surface: Darker than between NN137A            and 147A; venation, close to 191A. Fully expanded leaflets,            lower surface: Close to 146B; venation, close to 146A to            146B.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 5.9 cm. Width: About 3 mm. Height:            About 3 mm. Strength: Moderately strong to strong. Texture            and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;            glossy. Color, upper surface: Close to 144A tinged with            close to N200A. Color, lower surface: Close to 146A.-   Inflorescence description :    -   -   Appearance and arrangement.—Semi-double inflorescence form            with ray and disc florets forming acropetally on a            receptacle; inflorescences positioned above and beyond the            foliar plane on strong peduncles; inflorescences face            upright to outwardly; freely flowering habit with about 36            inflorescences developing per plant.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Flowering response and flowering period.—Early flowering            habit, plants begin flowering about 72 days after planting;            plants flower continuously during the autumn into the winter            in The Netherlands.        -   Post-production longevity.—Inflorescences maintain good            substance for about ten days on the plant; inflorescences            persistent.        -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 9 mm. Diameter: About            1.4 cm. Shape: Flattened globular. Texture and luster:            Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color: Close to 143A; towards the            apex, tinged with close to 59B.        -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 8.4 cm. Depth (height):            About 5.2 cm. Disc diameter: About 2.5 cm.        -   Receptacles.—Height: About 1.5 mm. Diameter: About 9 mm.            Shape: Flattened and curved. Color: Close to 145A.        -   Ray florets.—Quantity per inflorescence and arrangement:            About 60 arranged in about four whorls. Length: About            3.6 cm. Width: About 2 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Broadly            acute to shallowly retuse. Base: Acute. Margin: Entire.            Aspect: Upright to roughly horizontal and eventually            downward; moderately concave. Texture and luster, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; velvety; matte. Color:            When opening, upper surface: Close to N74A and towards the            base, darker than 59A. When opening, lower surface: Close to            N74A and towards the base, slightly darker than N79C. Fully            opened, upper surface: Close to 67B and towards the base,            darker than between 46A and 59A; venation, same as lamina,            close to 67B and towards the base, darker than between 46A            and 59A; colors do not change with development. Fully            opened, lower surface: Close to 67B to 67C and towards the            base, close to 60B; venation, same as lamina, close to 67B            to 67C and towards the base, close to 60B; colors do not            change with development.        -   Disc florets.—Quantity per inflorescence and arrangement:            About 45 massed at the center of the inflorescence in about            five spiral whorls. Length: About 1.7 cm. Diameter: About            6 mm. Shape: Tubular, elongated; apices, acute. Texture and            luster, inner and outer surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; glossy.            Color, when opening, inner and outer surfaces: Apex: Close            to between 187A and 203A. Mid-section: Close to between 46A            and 185A. Base: Close to 145C to 145D. Color, fully opened,            inner and outer surfaces: Apex: Close to between 187A and            203A. Mid-section: Close to between 46A and 185A. Base:            Close to 145C to 145D.        -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence and arrangement:            About six arranged in about two whorls. Length: About            1.4 cm. Width: About 7 mm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Bluntly            acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster,            upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; moderately            glossy. Color, upper surface: Close to 143A. Color, lower            surface: Close to 137B; venation, close to NN137A.        -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 6.4 cm.            Diameter, terminal peduncle: About 2 mm. Strength: Strong.            Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy.            Color: Close to 143B; proximally, tinged with close to            between 147A and 203A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium, present on disc florets            only: Quantity per floret: About five. Filament length:            About 3 mm. Filament color: Close to 150C. Anther shape:            Narrowly oblong. Anther length: About 5 mm. Anther color:            Close to 17B. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color: Close            to 24A. Gynoecium, present on disc florets only: Quantity            per floret: One. Pistil length: About 1.1 cm. Style length:            About 7 mm. Style color: Close to 150C. Stigma diameter:            About 6 mm. Stigma shape: Cleft, decurrent. Stigma color:            Close to 17A to 17B. Ovary color: Close to 145D. Seeds and            fruits: Seed and fruit development have not been observed on            plants of the new Dahlia.-   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Dahlia have not been    observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Dahlia    plants.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Dahlia have been observed    to tolerate high temperatures of about 35° C. and to be suitable for    USDA Hardiness Zones 9 to 11.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Dahlia plant named ‘BKDAMPE’ asillustrated and described.